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Computer has been acting up for month or so... Task Master won't quit, and has lots of 'svchost.exe's, scrolling in FB hesitates after couple seconds, and a few other irritating 'features', such as; usually hibernation will wake up after running a spyware scan with a notice that 'API couldn't finish due to lack of resources', or the like.

OS is XP Pro, sp2, Dell Optiplex 745 w/2 gig memory, 160 gig HD. Have run Malware, Spybot SD,and a few others that haven't found anything after Malware cleaned it up initially. Have been using ZoneAlarm Freebie cranked up high for some time. I don't download any gratuitous freeware, and get nothing in email but pix from family members. Don't use flash drives. Looking at an HJT log I noted a 03 line that was not identified and looked like a CLSID (to a rank amateur...CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829), so I googled it and all the entries collectively said, basically, "You've got Virut. Delete, format and reinstall OS".

So, before jumping into that kettle, I thought it advisable to see if that was really the diagnosis. I accept that it is the prescribed treatment, however...just don't want to take that nasty tasting medicine unless necessary.

The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows MBAM's database version and your operating system.

Also

I'd like us to scan your machine with ESET OnlineScan

Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.ESET OnlineScan

Click on to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.

Double click on the icon on your desktop.

Check

Click the button.

Accept any security warnings from your browser.

Under scan settings, check and check Remove found threats

Click Advanced settings and select the following:

Scan potentially unwanted applications

Scan for potentially unsafe applications

Enable Anti-Stealth technology

ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.

When the scan completes, push

Push , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.

Push the button.

Push

I will look back in the morning as I have to go now.

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Yes to the MBAM log...that's the good news. Ran the RSET online scan, and it picked up about 13 irregularities, deleted them and quarantined a page full of other 'things'. I tried to back up to get to the export button, but no-go, and consequently, all that info is gone into the cyber-ether.

I rebooted the computer and ran RSET again, just in case something would reload. But, it was clean. One other fault I remember is that none of the restore points I tried would work. Machine tried, but after it rebooted, the pop-up said the restore had failed.

Sorry about the FU, but maybe you will glean something from MBAM about Virut, or whatever it is called now.

Note: On Vista, "Windows Temp" is disabled. To empty "Windows Temp" ATF-Cleaner must be "Run as an Administrator".

From your regular user account..Download Attribune's ATF Cleaner and then SUPERAntiSpyware, Free Home Version. Save both to desktop ..DO NOT run yet.Open SUPER from icon and install and Update itUnder Scanner Options make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):Close browsers before scanning.Scan for tracking cookies.Terminate memory threats before quarantining.Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen and exit the program. DO NOT run yet.

Now reboot into Safe Mode: How to enter safe mode(XP)Using the F8 MethodRestart your computer. When the machine first starts again it will generally list some equipment that is installed in your machine, amount of memory, hard drives installed etc. At this point you should gently tap the F8 key repeatedly until you are presented with a Windows XP Advanced Options menu. Select the option for Safe Mode using the arrow keys. Then press enter on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode.

Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.Under Main "Select Files to Delete" choose: Select All.Click the Empty Selected button.

If you use Firefox or Opera browser click that browser at the top and choose: Select AllClick the Empty Selected button.If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.

NOW Scan with SUPEROpen from the desktop icon or the program Files listOn the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.Perform a Complete scan. After scan,Verify they are all checked.Click OK on the summary screen to quarantine all found items.If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes" and reboot normally.

To retrieve the removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.Please copy and paste the Scan Log results in your next reply.Click Close to exit the program.

Please ask any needed questions,post logs and Let us know how the PC is running now.

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

I did. Both, but SAS took 4 1/2 hours. Here it is, and the confuser seems to be running better but, the Task Master
still is not working as originally... can't close it unless checking the little green box icon in the quick start bar.

Make sure in that window there is a tick next to "All" under Export Branch.
Leave the "Save As Type" as "Registration Files".
Under "Filename" put RegBackup.

Choose to save it to C:\

Click save and then go to File » Exit.

Or you can download and use ERUNT which is an excellent free tool that allows you to to take a snapshot (backup) of your registry before making changes and restore it when needed.

Click on the link below:http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htmScroll down to #275 and click "Lift Restrictions - TM, Regedit and CMD" in the left column. Go to File, choose "Save page as" All Files and save regtmcmdrestore.vbs to your desktop. Double-click on that file to allow the script to run and reboot when done. Since the script modifies certain registry settings your anti-virus package may warn you about it. Ignore the warning and allow it to run

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook

Ran Mr Knox's file ass'n fix file, and then re ran SAS because it picked up the broken association instantly, and nothing there this time. So, unless/until something else crops up, will be satisfied. This wasn't as hard to follow as I had feared. And next time I'll be more careful and not lose the log file.

NOTE for Vista/WIN 7 users..The command needs to be run from an Elevated Command Prompt.Click Start, type cmd into the Start/Search box,right-click cmd.exe in the list above and select 'Run as Administrator'

You will need your operating system CD handy.

Open Windows Task Manager....by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC

Then click File.. then New Task(Run)

In the box that opens type sfc /scannow ......There is a space between c and /

Click OKLet it run and insert the CD when asked.

How do I get help? Who is helping me?For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear....Become a BleepingComputer fan: Facebook